James Purnell To Stand For Mayor?

Rachel Holdsworth
By Rachel Holdsworth Last edited 170 months ago
James Purnell To Stand For Mayor?

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Image by simonGman from the Londonist Flickr pool
We're more than two years away from choosing the next Mayor - we've not even had the general election yet ferchrissakes - but this drip of stories about potential Labour candidates is making us slightly weary. And now, according to Andrew Gilligan and ex-MPA chair Toby Harris, James Purnell may be about to throw his hat into the ring.

Who he? Oh, you remember. Former work and pensions secretary. Looks a bit like David Morrissey having a bad day. Caused a kerfuffle this weekend by announcing he's standing down as an MP at the next election (whenever that is). We kind of assumed that was all a bit of sour grapes after his cabinet resignation failed to topple Gordon Brown, but the scurrilous rumour mill marks him down as having ambitions on the capital.

And why not? There's one school of thought insisting that Boris only took the role as a stepping stone to a job in a Tory cabinet; it's a reasonable career path for a man once tipped as a future Labour party leader. But let's also recall that this story is being puffed by a journalist who toes the 'anyone but Ken' line, and see how it develops.

Last Updated 22 February 2010